USDA-FNS-CN-EAG-FY26
Closed Posted
- Opportunity number
- USDA-FNS-CN-EAG-2026
- Agency
-
Food and Nutrition Service
Department of Agriculture
- Applications due
- Award size
- $25,000 to $2,362,417
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Grant
- Category
-
- Food and Nutrition
- Eligible applicants
-
- State Governments
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service is distributing $20 million in competitive grants to State agencies administering the National School Lunch Program by May 28, 2026, with award ceilings ranging from $25,000 to $2,362,417 by state. Eligible applicants are the 54 State NSLP agencies only; schools, school districts, and charter schools may not apply directly. No cost share is required. State agencies must competitively subgrant funds to local education agencies, school food authorities, and schools for equipment purchases exceeding $1,000 to serve healthier meals, improve food safety, and establish or expand School Breakfast Programs. State agencies may retain up to 5% of their allocation for administrative costs, with all procurement and expenditures completed by September 30, 2028. The performance period runs from September 15, 2026, through September 30, 2028, with anticipated award announcements in August 2026.
As part of their application, State agencies must develop and submit their own competitive subgrant RFA including selection criteria aligned with grant purposes, a $1,000 equipment value requirement, federal and state procurement compliance references, and completion timelines. Evaluation awards 60 points for subgrant process quality and competitiveness, 20 points for realistic timelines and fund reallocation plans, and 20 points for appropriate and efficient budget use. Applications require completion of SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, SF-LLL disclosure forms, the FNS-906 financial capability questionnaire, a project narrative (maximum 5 pages), budget narrative, subgrantee RFA, and an Activities/Indicators Tracker. Assistance Listing 10.579 governs this opportunity under the Child Nutrition Discretionary Grants Limited Availability program. Initial award distribution must occur by January 5, 2028, with unused funds reallocatable through the final close-out date.
Synopsis
Under the leadership of Secretary Brooke Rollins, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is committed to strengthening strategies to encourage healthy choices, healthy outcomes, and healthy families. In support of this principle, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is pleased to announce the availability of $20 million to provide grants on a competitive basis to State agencies for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) Equipment Assistance Grants, as authorized under the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (Public Law 119-4), and the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (Public Law 119-37).
The NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant provides funds to NSLP State agencies to administer competitive subgrants to eligible local education agencies (LEAs), school food authorities (SFAs), and schools for the purchase of equipment valued at greater than $1,000. The purpose of the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant is to help ensure that schools have the equipment they need to serve healthier meals, improve food safety, and to support the establishment, maintenance, or expansion of the School Breakfast Program (SBP).
Since 2010, the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants have been used to modernize school kitchens nationwide, address equipment disparities in underserved areas, and promote strategies that foster healthy choices for students. In previous years, the NSLP Equipment Assistance Grants have been provided on a non-competitive basis through the FNS Regional Offices. This competitive Request for Applications (RFA) is a new process, and State agency applicants should review the RFA thoroughly to ensure full understanding of the updated requirements and procedures.
As part of the application to this grant, State agency applicants must develop and submit the RFA they will use to competitively award the subgrant. State agencies may consider any LEA, SFA, or school participating in NSLP as eligible to receive an NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant award (subgrant).
Selection criteria that State agencies are encouraged to consider when awarding the subgrants may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Opportunities to improve the nutrition and quality of meals, including supporting the implementation of updated nutrition requirements for school meals.
- Age or lack of appropriate food service equipment.
- Ability of food service equipment to increase the efficiency of procurement, food storage, and distribution/service.
- The availability of existing State and local funding for equipment purchases.
- Strategies for adopting cafeteria changes that provide more convenience and appeal to the student.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| CN FY26 Equipment_Assistance_Grant_FAQs.pdf | ||
| FNS-906.pdf | ||
| FY2026 NSLP EAG Budget Narrative Template.xlsx | XLSX spreadsheet | |
| FY 2026 Child Nutrition NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant Request for Applications.docx | DOCX document | |
| FY2026~1.PDF |
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